"The eagerly awaited sequel to Above
the Trenches solidified Grub Street's hold on the WWI aero market. Appearing three
years after the monumental survey of British Empire aces, Above the Lines
follows the same format with biographies and victory lists of the nearly 400 German aces,
including some 20 two-seat pilots and gunners.

With good to excellent photo coverage, this well researched
volume includes a broad-based account of German fighter aviation in the Great War as well
as short histories of each jagdstaffel (Army and Navy) with aces noted for each. There are
nine appendices, including a comprehensive accounting of Manfred von Richthofen's victories. Other
lists include balloon shooters, top scorers and top living aces for each month during
1916-1918.

Owing to detailed Allied loss data, it has been possible to
verify a great many German claims. Some of the individual confirmations are exceptional:
73 of 80 for Manfred; 46 of 48 for Voss; 29
of Allmenröder's 30, and all of Kurt Wolff's 33. This type of material makes
for valuable cross-references, especially when researching British actions.

If the book has a failing, it is the lack of information on
aircraft types flown by each pilot for each victory. The authors note that, contrary to
RFC/RAF policy, German reports did not always cite the aircraft flown, and a great many
records were lost. We can only hope that additional research will fill in some of the
gaps. That reservation aside, Above the Lines rates five stars."